Brainstorm #5

In the documentary, Senorita Extraviada: Crimes Against Women in Juarez, Lourdes Portillo showcases how poorly women are treated in Juarez as some 250 women are raped and murdered. The authorities don't seem to make an effort to resolve the crimes allowing for the mistreatment of women to persist. This has resulted in the undermining of the value of women in that society making them seem like they're not important. However, Portillo challenges this notion of women being disposable by speaking to the relatives of the victims and sharing the stories of the individuals. Her hope is to fight for social reform and for individuals to see these women as actual people that suffered greatly. Lisa Cacho's concept of "social death" can be seen in this documentary in that the women who are mistreated like this are already socially considered dead by their families and society. Nonetheless, the relatives of these women are continuously practicing resilience and fighting for justice by confronting the authorities. They urge the police to go one step further and grant them the minimal justice they deserve. This entire film illustrates how art can be used as a platform to showcase the tragedies of the women and advocate for social justice. This form of art allows a wide range of viewers to better understand the stories of these women so that we can collectively fight against the oppression of these women.